Two new pedestrian routes open to improve access to Stampede Park, LRT station

Two pedestrian routes that the City of Calgary says offer easier access to Stampede Park and the CTrain'sVictoria Park/Stampede Station opened on Tuesday.

Pedestrians and cyclists can now enter Stampede Park at 17th Avenue S.E. where it crosses Macleod Trail, the city says.

Meanwhile, the CTrain's Victoria Park/Stampede Station can now be accessed from two new, barrier-free approaches at 17th Avenue S.E. and 14th Avenue S.E.

Before the pandemic,13,000 people used the station every day, and the changes make the distance for pedestrians to reach it seven times shorter, the city says.

"These new level-access routes have always been part of our vision for revitalizing the Rivers District," said Kate Thompson, the president and CEO of the Calgary Municipal Land Corporation, which is managing the project.

"They'll naturally invite people in, prioritizing pedestrians and help showcase the [culture and entertainment district] as it grows into Calgary's cultural gathering place."

The changes are part of a major overhaul of the Victoria Park/Stampede LRT station that includes knocking down the elevated portion to bring passenger access to street level.

Crews will begin demolishing thestation, the Plus-15 skybridgeand its spiral staircase next week, the release said.

Transit service at the station will be maintained throughout most of the construction. However, there will be five closures onlong weekends,the release said.